Abstract: This antenna system has a plurality of elementary antennas configured into an array, wherein there is a reception (or transmission) channel associated with each antenna or sub-array of antennas, said reception channel having, in series:an active reception module,delay means capable of selectively introducing a pure delay of propagation of the signal picked up by the elementary antenna so as to produce a gradation of delays for the different respective elementary antennas, said gradation of delays enabling the definition of a desired pointing in the direction of the wave to be received with respect to the orientation proper to the array;and an analog/digital converter receiving, at input, the analog signal received, to deliver, at output, a corresponding digitized signal to a beam forming computer.